The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently received a complaint from a veteran contractor regarding a project aimed at mitigating disasters, including the powerful earthquake, known as the “Big One,” that could hit Metro Manila.

Part of the contract was the retrofitting of the Quezon Bridge in Quiapo bid out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The contractor never expected a problem with the project since it had handled similar contracts before. Based on the complaint with the NBI, however, anomalous incidents were observed even during the “pre-construction meeting” held at the conference room of the Department of Public Works and Highways–National Capital Region office in Intramuros, Manila.

One of these unusual occurrences was the raising of questions that deviated from the plan and design intended as guidelines for the contractor to follow during implementation.

As a winning bidder, the contractor was not supposed to question the guidelines of the contract.

The contractor, thereafter, received a “letter to terminate” signed by a regional director, citing as the excuse an “unimplementable design.”

To cut to the chase, the contractor was asked to shell out 20 percent of the contract price. When the DPWH official was asked, she said the amount was the price for rigging the bid for Jones Bridge, which would be given to the newly designated DPWH director.

Eventually, the project, despite the specifications outlined in the bid for rehabilitation, evolved into a beautification project.

The contractor then sought help from the top echelons of the DPWH where, he said, very unorthodox things also happened.

Instead of an investigation, all the people involved in the bid were promoted and the DPWH official was allowed to retire with full benefits.

DPWH-NCR officials also launched a concerted attack against the contractor, including the issuance of a threatening letter that led to the illegal confiscation of a billing collection for another project, the P3.5-million Cubao Ismael Mathay Elementary School Building retrofitting project.

The forfeiture was against the rules of the Commission on Audit. The DPWH-NCR then asked the contractor to stop complaining or face a ban from future project auctions.

The hurdles that the contractor faced were typical challenges that private firms encounter when undertaking government development projects.

Gambling bill jitters

Proposed legislation aimed at curbing the surge in gambling addiction, financial distress, and crime was recently filed in the Senate.

The bill includes a provision imposing stricter limits on online gambling, including a P10,000 minimum cash-in requirement, a ban on gambling sponsorships of public events and political campaigns, and the use of regulatory fees to fund rehabilitation centers for gambling addiction.

The sponsor of the bill warned that the rapid expansion of digital gambling has been linked to the “erosion of our moral fiber” and has contributed to the rising crime rate.

The proposed bill includes additional restrictions on e-wallets and enhanced age verification rules.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas confirmed it will issue new guidelines to protect digital platform users from gambling-related risks.

The twin push sparked quick reactions from investors, with prices of gaming-related shares declining.

“The political momentum behind the bill has likely led institutional and retail investors alike to rotate out of these equities until there’s more clarity or a legislative compromise,” one stock analyst said.

While lawmakers point to the social toll of online gambling, industry insiders argue the proposed crackdown blends licensed domestic operators with the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which had been linked to crime and money laundering.

Nonetheless, the people of the Philippines will decide on their entertainment.

It’s important to note that there’s substantial opposition to the proposal.

“This is not POGO. This is a flourishing, successful, employing, tax-generating industry. If I were an investor, I would see this disruption as an opportunity,” an industry analyst said.